April 19, 2012

Jewel Box Opens at Michener Museum

In a ceremony yesterday evening at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA, museum officials dedicated the Edgar N. Putman Event Pavilion, an elegant, all-glass structure extending into the north side of the Museum's Patricia D. Pfundt Sculpture Garden.

Founded in 1989, the museum occupies the site of the former Bucks County Prison, built in 1884 and designed by Addison Hutton. Designed by KieranTimberlake, and constructed by Adams-Bickel Associates, Inc., the Event Pavilion demonstrates a unique and ambitious use of structural glass panels, allowing seamless views to and from the interior of the museum toward the magnificent former prison walls that encompass the Patricia D. Pfundt Sculpture Garden. 
 
Michener Art Museum Director/CEO Bruce Katsiff expressed his joy at working with so many generous donors who were inspired by the eloquent design and masterful architectural vision. “This has been the most rewarding new building experience in my 40-year career as a museum director and arts administrator,” he said. 
 
James Timberlake, lead design partner for the project, said, “From the very beginning we thought that to truly celebrate the museum wall, and make the landscape more useful, a modest, transparent jewel box should be inserted in the garden. This singular act now brings this very special stone wall, which defines the museum, directly into the experience of the museum visitor.” 
 
“The wisdom of this scheme is that the Pavilion remains accessible both from the indoor galleries and through the outdoor Sculpture Garden, allowing multiple museum programs to function simultaneously, and its highly ambitious glass construction creates a powerful architectural statement that adds significantly to the museum's physical identity,” Katsiff added.

About the James A. Michener Art Museum

The James A. Michener Art Museum is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting the art and cultural heritage of the Bucks County, Pennsylvania region. In addition to hosting a changing schedule of exhibitions from around the country, the Museum is home to the largest public collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings. The Museum offers a diverse program of educational activities that seek to develop a lifelong involvement in the arts. The Museum is located at 138 South Pine Street in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.